Classic Rock Showdown

All overplayed by just about every radio station since the dawn of time. That said, they're all very good songs* that have stood the test of time and tide of fashion and passing trends etc. Of the five, Purple Haze (with its angular and dissonant tritone opening riff) is maybe the most daring and original for its time (1967) followed by Stairway to Heaven which created a template, much imitated since, for every subsequent Rock band's 'epic number' that starts slow and gentle then gets uber heavy (maaan) to reach a showstopping climax etc

*Freebird has a very beautiful opening sung section but degenerates thereafter into good 'ol boys threadbare plank spanking cliche w.a.n.k.e.r.y non pareil. There's not a single original lick throughout that wasn't lifted verbatim from someone like T-Bone Walker from as long ago as the 1940s.

Yeah, a vicious poll... It's like asking: "Which one of your five kids do you want to keep?"

So, I vote Stairway to California (well, will give it to The Eagles, since they're lagging behind a bit)

 I presume it is more down to fame than structure. I’ve heard of every song in this poll (even if I’ve never heard all of them). I’ve never heard of Come Sail Away, and would suggest it comes nowhere to close as being as famous as the five here. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Had it been performed by some obscure prog/rock group not from the US, it would be lauded as a masterpiece...both the studio and live versions.